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May-June 2016 All programs and activities are open to the public Vol. 38, No. 1
P.O. Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 � Published eight times a year Editor: Janet Wissink, 7035 Mountain Rd., Pickett, WI 54964 � 920-589-2602 � [email protected]
Check our website for up-to-date information: www.winaudubon.org
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Contact Carla Hansen for more information, to make a pledge, create a team or join a team at: 920-233-1129 or [email protected] The Birdathon would not be a success without the generous contributions of our members and friends. Please sponsor our birders by pledging a per bird amount (a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar) or pledge a flat dollar amount. Your support allows us to continue providing quality events and programs in our community.
My Pledge amount: $__________ per bird OR
$__________ flat amount
Make checks payable to Winnebago Audubon Society.
� Check is enclosed � Bill me
Name _________________________________________
Address _______________________________________
Email _________________________________________
� Send me a list of the birds you see. � Call me, I’d like to join a team. Phone _____________
Send to: Carla Hansen
4556 Island View Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54901
We’re all about birds this spring: Birdathon Oshkosh Bird Fest Bird Walks May Day Bird Count Audubon’s Birds of America
Calendar of Events Visit www.winaudubon.org for updates and details.
May Birdathon Month. Join a team, create a
team, make your pledge.
May 7 Oshkosh Bird Fest www.oshkoshbirdfest.com
A full day of activities to celebrate birds! (See p. 4)
May 7- Audubon’s Birds of America Exhibit Oct. 16 at the the Paine Art Center and Gardens
May 11 Bird with the Best
May 14 May Day Bird Count (See page 4)
May 14 Bird Walk at the Paine (See page 2)
May 19 Bird Walk at the Paine (See page 2)
John James Audubon visits the Paine Art Center and Gardens. Sponsored in part by Winnebago Audubon. See details on page 2.
June 2 Art & Dinner Evening
June 3 Birding in the Museum with JJ Audubon
June 4 Adventures with Audubon Family Program
June 12 Birds & Beer #1: A walk on the Wiouwash
Trail followed by a refreshing beer or soda at Bare Bones Brewery. See page 4.
June 30 John James Audubon’s Birds of America
Program at Oshkosh Public Library. See p. 3
July 16 Raptors Up Close, Aves Wildlife Alliance. Program at the Paine. See p. 3
Aug 20 Eagles in Wisconsin, Steve Easterly, DNR. Program at the Paine. See p. 3
Summer: Swift Nights Out, Monarch Tagging & More
Sep 23 Sullivan’s Woods Tour
Nov 17 Native Plants & Birds: Stopover Initiative
Bird with the Best Wed., May 11, 6:00 am
Would you like to participate in Winnebago Audubon’s Birdathon? Join Anita Carpenter and Bettie Harriman, team “Winnebago Warblers”, on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:00 am. Meet at the Wiouwash Trail parking lot on Westwind Rd. We’ll walk part of this trail before heading out to other bird-rich areas in the county—sort of a mystery tour. Bring snacks and lunch. Who knows how long we’ll be out. All levels of bird watching skills are welcome, including beginners. You can stay as little or as long as you desire. Directions to the Trail: Go north on Algoma Blvd., past the cemetery. At the first roundabout, take a left onto Lake Butte des Morts Drive. Go over US41 and the parking lot is on the left at Westwind Rd. Hope to see you there! Rain date is Wednesday, May 18, although some of the best birding can be in the rain.
Take part in our May Birdathon.
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In conjunction with the Audubon’s Birds of America exhibition, Anita Carpenter from the Winnebago Audubon Society will guide you in identifying the various species of birds found on the Paine grounds and prairie woodlands. Participants will meet on Algoma Blvd. in front of the Paine Mansion. The walk will be approximately an hour, followed by morning coffee and continental breakfast in the Carriage House. You will also enjoy an early, private viewing of Audubon’s Birds of America in the Mansion.
Please wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for the walk. In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified of cancellation via email. Reservations required and can be made on-line at: http://www.thepaine.org/events/morning-bird-walk/. Please contact Michelle Rondinelli at [email protected] or 920-235-6903 ext.24 with questions. The cost is $9, but FREE to Paine members and Winnebago Audubon Society members.
Art & Dinner Evening
Thursday, June 2, 5:30-8:00 pm
Enjoy an intimate evening at the Paine featuring a dramatized tour of the Audubon’s Birds of America exhibition followed by a gourmet dinner in the Carriage House. The event begins in the Mansion’s Main Gallery with Brian “Fox” Ellis portraying John James Audubon within the exhibition. The gourmet, three-course meal is prepared and served by Zuppas.
$65 / $55 Paine Member/Winnebago Audubon Member Include Wine: $15 / $12 Paine/Winnebago Audubon Member Price includes tour, dinner and gratuity. Proceeds support the Paine Art Center and Gardens.
Reservations required by May 26 and can be made on-line at: http://www.thepaine.org/events/art-dinner-evening/. For more information about this event please call 920-235-6903 ext.28.
ART EXHIBITION
Audubon’s Birds of America May 7—October 16, 2016
The exhibi�on is sponsored by
Horicon Bank. Educa�onal programs
are presented in partnership with
Winnebago Audubon Society and
supported by the Oshkosh Area
Community Founda�on.
The Paine presents a selection of extraordinary hand-colored engravings created by renowned American artist and naturalist John James Audubon for his iconic publication The Birds of America. Dating from 1827 to 1838, the
impressive, large-format masterworks (known as the “Double-Elephant Folio”) are the most celebrated work of American ornithology and are among the most admired wildlife imagery in the world.
Birding in the Museum
Friday, June 3, 12:00 & 2:00 pm
Brian “Fox” Ellis will lead a special gallery tour that blends insight into Audubon’s style of making art with tales of his wild adventures and his efforts to paint every bird in North America. Every artwork tells a story and Fox as Audubon will engage visitors in a dynamic conversation about art, aesthetics, and the environment. The gallery talk is free with paid admission to the Paine (free for Paine members and Winnebago Audubon Society members). No reservation necessary.
Adventures with Audubon A Family Program
Saturday, June 4, 1:00 pm
Portraying Audubon the artist, Brian “Fox” Ellis will enchant children and families with stories of his travels in the wildest places on the planet. Listen to tales of his adventures as he accomplishes something no one had ever done before: drawing every bird in North America. This program is held in the Conservatory, located at the back of the Paine property along Congress Ave. This family program is free with paid admission to the Paine (free for Paine members and Winnebago Audubon Society members). No reservation necessary.
On June 2nd, 3rd and 4th, the Paine Art Center and Gardens and Winnebago Audubon Society are proud to host storyteller and educator Brian “Fox” Ellis, who will bring the personality and artwork
of John James Audubon to life through a series of programs.
Morning Bird Walks at the Paine
Saturday, May 14, 7 am and Thursday, May 19, 7 am
Visit the Paine Art Center and Gardens
website, www.thepaine.org, for complete
details and addi�onal programs and events
in conjunc�on with the exhibit:
Audubon’s Birds of America.
Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Spring beauty, Claytonia virginica
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John James Audubon’s Birds of America
Thursday, June 30, 6:30 pm
at the Oshkosh Public Library
Presented by Paine Art Center and Gardens
Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Laura Fiser
Learn more about artist and naturalist John James Audubon (1785-1851), the inspiration and namesake for the National Audubon Society and the subject of the current exhibition at the Paine Art Center and Gardens. Almost 200 years ago, Audubon set out to study and paint every bird species in North America. Hear about his incredible adventures and see examples of his masterful artistry in this free lecture at the Oshkosh Public Library.
Raptors Up Close
Saturday, July 16, 1:00 pm
Presented by Aves Wildlife Alliance of Neenah, this program for children and families will explore what makes raptors different from your usual backyard birds. View Wisconsin raptors up close and in “the living feather.”. This program is held in the Conservatory, located at the back of the Paine property along Congress Ave. This family program is free with paid admission to the Paine (free for Paine members and Winnebago Audubon Society members). No reservation necessary.
Eagles in Wisconsin
Saturday, August 20, 1:00 pm
DNR wildlife technician Steve Easterly will delight families with this program on eagles and ospreys. Come learn about these majestic birds, and how the DNR has brought them back from the brink of endangerment. Steve will show you how to identify an eagle’s nest and their eggs, and what we can do to continue to protect these birds. This program is held in the Conservatory, located at the back of the Paine property along Congress Ave. This family program is free with paid admission to the Paine (free for Paine members and Winnebago Audubon Society members). No reservation necessary.
Let’s take “Fox” Birding
Saturday, June 4, 7:00 am
Uihlein Marsh (Waterfowl Production Area) County Road M at Osborne Rd.
Uihlein Marsh is an expansive wetland near Rush Lake in western Winnebago County managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Leopold Wetland Management District. There are more than 9 miles of mowed paths along a system of dikes through the marsh. Brian “Fox” Ellis will be our guest on this field trip. Fox will be in Oshkosh for four days giving programs at the Paine Art Center and Gardens and also at Oshkosh schools. He has been birding across the US as John James Audubon, but today we thought he should just enjoy a Wisconsin wetland as himself. We plan to take a leisurely walk along the dikes to look and listen for a wide variety of marsh birds including marsh and sedge wrens, black terns, bitterns, waterfowl and more. Who knows what other critters we may encounter. Wear sturdy walking shoes and appropriate clothing. Bring your binoculars, if you have them. We do have some to lend. Directions: Take State Road 91 from Oshkosh to Waukau. Turn left onto County Road M. The parking lot is 1.5 miles on your left. Here’s a little information about the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Leopold Wetland Management District. It is named after Aldo Leopold who is widely acknowledged as the father of wildlife conservation in America. Leopold is perhaps best known as the author of A Sand County Almanac, a book compiled of essays written on his farm in central Wisconsin. In tribute to his philosophy, the Leopold Wetland Management District is dedicated to preserving, restoring, and enhancing wildlife habitat in Wisconsin for the benefit of present and future generations. The Leopold Wetland Management District manages over 13,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). WPAs are purchased with proceeds from the sales of Federal Duck Stamps and are owned by the Federal government. The lands are managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wetlands on WPAs are restored and maintained for the benefit of migratory birds and other wildlife. Uplands are restored to grasslands, generally planted with native prairie grasses and forbs to provide nesting habitat. Wetlands are among the most productive habitats in the world, providing food and habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. They also benefit human communities by filtering sediments and excess nutrients, lessening flood potential, and replenishing groundwater supplies. Unfortunately, about half of Wisconsin's wetlands have been lost in the last 200 years, from about 10 million acres to 5 million. The wetlands within the Leopold Wetland Management District are regionally and locally important because they provide some of the best remaining habitat not only for waterfowl but also many other wildlife and plant species.
EVEN MORE BIRDING ON NEXT PAGE
Winnebago Audubon Society extends a sincere thank you for your support
which allows us to continue to provide positive experiences in nature for our community.
Anonymous Cathy Kaspar
From the From the From the From the Quiz Quiz Quiz Quiz Master:Master:Master:Master: I’m a delicate spring flower growing a majestic 6 inches tall. Each of my pink, 1/2-inch-wide blossoms has five petals and we grow in a cluster. I am a burst of color on a still-brown landscape. What am I?
(Look closely to find the answer in this newsletter.)
May Day Bird Count
Saturday, May 14
Birdwatching in May is exciting. Would you like to participate in the annual May Day Bird Count? It’s an annual event that has taken place in Winnebago County for 50-plus years. Oshkosh Bird Club, which coordinates the effort, needs additional volunteer counters to help cover Winnebago County on Saturday, May 14. You’ll need to identify and count numbers seen. If interested, call Tom Ziebell at 920-312-1976. More information is available on the website www.oshkoshbirdclub.com.
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Saturday, May 7 MENOMINEE PARK, 6am-2pm
Big Sit, 6am-12pm
Bird Banding, 7am-10:30am
Bird Walks, beginning at 8am
Costa Rican Connec%on Presenta�on, 9:00am
Art of Falconry Presenta�on, 11:45am
Children’s Ac%vi%es, 10am-2pm
Live Birds of Prey, 10am-2pm
with presenta�ons at 10:15 & 12:45
Educa%onal Exhibits, 8am-2pm
Na%ve Plant Sale, 8am-2pm
Concessions, 8am-2pm
Saturday Night Out GALLERY WALK, 6pm-9pm
Bird Fest HQ at Oshkosh Masonic Center
Student Bird Art Exhibit, Live Birds of Prey,
Educa%onal Exhibits, and more!
Par�cipate in the Gallery Walk Scavenger Hunt Quiz. Win a
prize! Live birds at AtomicKatz and Klassy Kids.
www.oshkoshbirdfest.com Like us on Facebook and par�cipate in our bird quiz
You can help make Oshkosh Bird Fest
a huge success!
VOLUNTEER: Please consider volunteering for two hours between 8am & 2pm or 6pm & 9pm. We need help at the Bird Fest information table and for our chapter exhibit. You don’t need to be an expert on birds to help us out.
DONATE bird seed, bird feeders, bird houses, or any other items for our fundraiser.
PURCHASE a beautiful Bird City Wisconsin mini-poster . . . $20
Or Window Alerts to prevent bird window collisions . . . 4 pk/$2.50
Oshkosh Bird Fest is a city event organized by volunteers from Oshkosh Bird Club, Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board, Oshkosh Zoological Society, Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter, Winnebago Audubon, and Wisconsin DNR. It is entirely funded by donations. Oshkosh was awarded recognition as a Bird City Wisconsin in 2010, and recertified in 2016 as a “high flyer”, because Oshkosh is a bird friendly community and is committed to implementing sound conservation practices and educating its residents to play an increased role in making our community
healthy for birds … and people.
Contact Janet: E-mail [email protected]
Call 920-589-2602
Major Sponsors:
Birds and Beer Field Trip #1
Sunday, June 12, 1:00 pm
Wiouwash Trail and Bare Bones Brewery
Explore what’s flowering, chirping and, maybe, croaking as we take an easy stroll down the Wiouwash Trail. Bring binoculars if you have them. Afterwards we will stop in at Bare Bones Brewery for a craft beer or cold soda. Directions: We’ll meet in the parking lot on County Road Y (Sunnyview Rd.) near County Road S north of Oshkosh. Take US45 (Algoma Blvd.) north from I-41 (1.4 miles). Take the County Road T exit toward County Road S/Ryf Road. Turn left onto County Road T. In .2 miles turn right onto County Road S. In .5 miles turn right onto County Road Y. The parking lot is on the left.
Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks by Anita Carpenter
May is warbler month when 37 species return to Wisconsin. They bring with them energy, colorful names, and varied musical songs to once again thrill and challenge birdwatchers. These colorful, active, insect-eating, 4 to 6-inch sprites are in the wood-warbler family Parulidae. They are mostly gray, olive or green, highlighted with bright yellow, red, orange, blue or black markings. Males in stunning breeding plumage are like bright Easter eggs hanging in trees and may be fairly easy to identify—females less so. If you’re new to warbler identification, it can be a bit overwhelming. At first glance they may all appear similar. So what physical features do you look for to help identify them? First, really focus on head color and facial patterns. Are there eye stripes, eye rings, or lines above the eyes? What color is the cheek patch, throat, or crown? Then look for the presence or absence of wingbars. Is the breast plain or streaked? What color is the back, rump, or under the tail? Are tail spots present? These features or field marks are a lot to look at with just a glance but a familiarity will come with practice. Preparation for the upcoming migration can be helpful. Peruse a field guide to familiarize yourself with the warblers. When you first look at a a particular bird, ask yourself what feature stands out. Is it a gray head, an eye ring, or broad white wingbars? Then when you actually see the bird, this clue will stand out for you. Also, pay attention to warbler names. For example, a yellow-rumped, chestnut-sided, or black-throated blue warbler tells you the most outstanding feature of that bird. So if you observe one, it could be fairly easy to put a name to it. However, some names like Magnolia or Nashville warbler give no indication as to its appearance. With these species you’ll just need to place them in your memory bank. Also, look at range maps to see which warblers are likely to show up here. One benefit of warbler watching in Wisconsin as compared to Texas, for example, is that when the birds finally arrive here, males are often singing because they’re nearing their breeding grounds. Because trees in May are leafing out, olive green warblers and, surprisingly, even colorful ones blend in with the yellow-green foliage. Also, warblers seem to prefer tree tops. Knowing warbler songs helps ID them even if you can’t really see them. Learn the songs by listening to CD’s of bird songs or on your smart phone! I must confess, after all these years of birdwatching, I’m still challenged by warbler songs and must relearn many each year. Some songs I still have not mastered. Do not become discouraged! Embrace the challenge. One of the warblers I’m delighted to welcome back is the Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas. An easy warbler to identify, the male sports an olive-green back and a bright, golden yellow breast, undertail coverts, and throat. Hence its common name yellowthroat. His most obvious field mark is the black mask. No other warbler we encounter has one. Females lack the black mask and are
duller overall. She could be a bit tricky to ID if she is by herself. Common Yellowthroats are often found among the tangle of stems in their preferred shrubby, marshy wetlands. Males don’t always sing from exposed perches so it’s helpful to recognize his loud, unmistakable “witch-
ity, witch-ity, witch-it” song which is sure to draw your attention. You may not always see them but Common Yellowthroats are plentiful breeders in Winnebago County’s wetlands. Upon arrival, female yellowthroats become very busy. After she selects the nest site on or near the ground, she alone builds the nest using grasses and reeds and lines it with finer grasses. After laying an average of 4 creamy white eggs speckled with brown dots, she alone incubates the eggs for 11-13 days. The male finally assists her with feeding the youngsters. Nestlings fledge in 8 days but are dependent upon their parents for another 22 to 26 days. Two broods may be raised per year. Frequently, Common Yellowthroats find themselves raising Brown-headed Cowbirds which have parasitized their nests. Interestingly, Common Yellowthroats are one of only 5 of the 57 warbler species recorded nationwide that can be found at some time during the year in all of the lower 48 states. (Others are yellow, yellow-rumped, orange-
crowned and Wilson’s warblers.) Most of the warblers we see in Wisconsin are only found in the eastern United States. Be prepared for the coming of the warblers. Most have journeyed from Central America but, for many, their trip is not yet complete. After a brief refueling stop, the urgency of the breeding season calls and they are quickly on their way to the forests of northern Wisconsin and Canada. I wish them well and hope to see them on their return trip in autumn.
A Burst of Avian Spring!
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Male Common Yellowthroat. Photo by Greg Lasley/VIREO
NON-PROFIT ORG
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PAID
OSHKOSH WI PERMIT NO 90
Winnebago Audubon Society Mission Statement: Advance the mission of the National Audubon Society to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity through grassroots efforts of community outreach and advocacy.
AUDUBON SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
� Chapter Only Membership: Your $20.00 stays in our chapter and you receive the Winnebago Audubon chapter newsletter and all chapter benefits. Make $20.00 check payable to Winnebago Audubon.
OR
� National Audubon Membership: Your $20.00 includes chapter membership and all chapter benefits, PLUS Audubon magazine and all national benefits. Make $20.00 check payable to National Audubon Society.
� I do not wish to receive solicitations from National Audubon Society.
Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
City/State/Zip: ______________________________
Chapter Code: C6ZZ12OZ
Mail this form with payment to: Pat Nichols, Membership, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903
OFFICERS President (Acting): Janet Wissink 920-589-2602 / [email protected]
Vice President: OPEN
Secretary: Zaiga Freivalds 920-233-5914 / [email protected]
Treasurer: Mike Brandel [email protected]
DIRECTORS Anita Carpenter, 920-233-6677 Daniel Fiser 920-573-9135 / [email protected] Evelyn Meuret 920-573-7828 / [email protected] Dave Moon 920-235-4429 / [email protected] Pat Nichols 920-426-0261 / [email protected]
Important Note: TEMPORARILY AWAY? Please notify us if you will be temporarily away. The post office will not forward your newsletter. If your newsletter is returned to us, we remove you from our mailing list. Please contact Pat Nichols at [email protected] or 920-426-0261 with any questions.
RENEWALS: Your mailing label includes your membership expiration date above your name. If you are a “Chapter Only” member the word CHAPTER will appear after the expiration date. Please renew your chapter membership by filling out the application form below. Thank you for helping us save on the cost of renewal reminders. If you are a member of National Audubon, NATL will appear after the expiration date. You will receive renewal notices from National or you may renew by using the form below. If you are receiving a complimentary newsletter, COMP will appear with an expiration date. Please consider joining our chapter by using the application below.
GO GREEN by opting to receive your newsletter via e-mail. Contact Pat Nichols at [email protected]
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Welcome to Winnebago AudubonWelcome to Winnebago AudubonWelcome to Winnebago AudubonWelcome to Winnebago Audubon
A special thank you to all those who are renewing
again this year as well. You are invited to participate in
activities of your local Winnebago Audubon chapter. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and to enjoy
what nature has to offer.
If you are a new member of National or the Chapter and haven’t seen your name here in the last couple of issues,
please contact
Pat Nichols, Membership Chair (email me at: [email protected])
Robert Ashton
Sylvia Froehlicher Randy Grimes
Karen Kuhr Debbie Laffin
Virginia Lafleur Lee Otis
Steven Rohde
James Tratz
Debbie Tremble
Word of the Day: Supercilium
Term used to describe the eyebrow or line
directly above the eye on a bird’s head.
